A former United States ambassador to the United Nations expressed optimism Aug. 9 about freedom for Paul Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner, who are currently being held in Russian prisons.
The conviction and sentencing of Griner illustrates significant concerns of the U.S. with the legal system in Russia, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said in a statement Aug. 4. Those concerns include how Russia’s government advances its agenda with individuals as political pawns.
“Today’s conviction and sentencing by a Russian court of U.S. citizen Brittney Griner to nine years in prison further compounds the injustice of her wrongful detention,” Blinken said.
Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and frequent envoy in hostage negotiations, is optimistic about the prospects of a two-for-two prisoner swap that may free Whelan and Griner, WWNY 7 News reported.
The U.S. and Russia have already shown a willingness to carry out prisoner swaps, as evidenced by the Reed exchange, Richardson said, according to WWNY 7 News. And Griner’s strategy of expressing contrition before a Russian court was important.
“Nothing about today’s decision changes our determination that Brittney Griner is wrongfully detained, and we will continue working to bring Brittney and fellow wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan home,” Blinken said.
Blinken also said the U.S. stands against any nation that wrongfully detains a citizen.
“Russia, and any country engaging in wrongful detention, represents a threat to the safety of everyone traveling, working, and living abroad,” Blinken said. ”The United States opposes this practice everywhere.”
